Life Cycle Data for PVC
Reliable Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data is essential for accurate Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). Plastics Europe’s Eco-profile shows that PVC production is comparatively energy-efficient. Because PVC is 57% chlorine from common salt, it requires significantly less hydrocarbon feedstock than many other plastics.
The combined process and feedstock energy for suspension PVC – the most typically produced type of PVC – is around 60 MJ/kg, which is lower than that of many alternatives, making PVC one of the more resource-efficient materials at the production stage.
Eco-profiles
Eco-profiles are cradle-to-gate studies that measure the environmental impacts of production up to the factory gate. They provide the detailed LCI data that underpins the Environmental Product Declaration.
The Eco-profiles of PVC were fully updated in 2022, with a water update in 2023 and a revised edition in June 2023. Data was collected from 39 plants across Europe, covering 68% of Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM), 73% of suspension PVC (S-PVC) and 81% of emulsion PVC (E-PVC) production capacity.
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
The EPD translates the Eco-profile into a standardised, verified format that communicates the environmental performance of PVC production. It follows Plastics Europe’s Eco-profile methodology (version 3.1) and has undergone independent external review.
The EPD includes indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water use and other impact categories. It is designed for use by:
- PVC producers in product-oriented environmental management
- Downstream users conducting LCA studies of finished products
- Stakeholders seeking transparent, verified sustainability data
It is important to note that EPDs do not allow direct material-to-material comparisons. Such assessments must always be made at the application level, taking into account the full life cycle.
